]]>Before he penned The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald earned his fame and wealth from short stories he wrote for The Saturday Evening Post. His earnings brought the lavish parties, flapper culture, and glittering jazz of the Roaring ’20s to life.

Here’s a look at some of the Post‘s Gatsby-era artwork. For more original illustrations and beautiful cover images, check out Gatsby Girls, available for purchase in print and digital editions.

]]>Fertilizer Explosions: What Have We Learned From Past Disasters?http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2013/04/18/archives/historical-retrospectives/texas-city-disaster-of-1947.html
Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:04:13 +0000http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/?p=84545The devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, happened 66 years after one of the nation's worst industrial disasters.

The devastating explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, happened 66 years after one of the nation’s worst industrial disasters—also caused by a fertilizer explosion. On April 16, 1947, more than 500 people were killed and 3,000 injured as a series of violent explosions and fires demolished the Gulf Coast seaport of Texas City, Texas.

The Post reported on the events leading to the explosion of the S.S. Grandcamp vessel; the minute-by-minute account of the terrible blast; and the legal battle that followed.

As in West, Texas, many of the firefighters were killed, and there is speculation that the volunteer firemen may not have known how to fight a fertilizer fire. The Post noted that although they knew how to fight ship fires, oil, benzol and propane fires, there was no general current knowledge that ammonium nitrate would explode.

It is impossible to estimate the force of the Grandcamp explosion, but it is difficult to exaggerate it. Terminal buildings ceased to exist. Monsanto’s warehouse—a steel-and-brick structure—was flattened. The main power plant was similarly crushed, and, as the blast fanned out, walls of manufacturing buildings fell, partitions shredded, pipelines carrying flammable liquids were torn apart. Two sightseeing light planes, 1,500 feet above the Grandcamp, were blown out of the air, with the loss of four lives. Windows in Galveston and Freeport were shattered; the explosion was felt in Palestine, Texas, 200 miles away.

Legendary performers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player teed off for the 77th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club as honorary starters.

Fifty years ago, the Post interviewed the big three: Palmer was noted as the game’s acknowledged master; Player, the small, sensational South African; and Nicklaus, forecasted to be golf’s next superstar. In the April 13, 1963, article, the golfers discussed how the travel was endless, the pressure was fierce, but the money was great.

On the topic of the Masters, Nicklaus said, “There has never been a golf course in the history of the game that has suited a man more than Augusta National suits Arnie. Never! He’s got a four-stroke bloody advantage before we tee off. Almost every hole is a dogleg left.”

]]>Easy Furniture Makeoverhttp://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/09/12/health-and-family/crafts/paint-furniture.html
Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:00:38 +0000http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/?p=71181Add a pop of color to any room by refinishing an old dresser, bedside table, or bookcase with these easy-to-follow directions.

I wanted to wake up to a little more sunshine each day. My solution? Adding a bold splash of yellow to the bedroom by refinishing an old dresser.

Painting furniture is an easy way to add a pop of color to any room. And if you live in a rental apartment or home, it saves you the hassle of painting—and repainting—the walls.

This DIY project is affordable, customizable, and easy to complete in a weekend.

How to Paint Furniture

Materials

Dresser or other wood furniture

1 quart water-based primer

1 quart acrylic latex paint (shown in Afternoon Tea Yellow)

Knobs and handles

Tools

Painter’s drop cloth

Orbital power sander

Fine-grit sandpaper

Roller frame and cover

Paint roller tray

Paintbrush

Directions

Prepare your workspace by covering the floor with a drop cloth, removing the dresser’s hardware (set aside), and taking out the drawers. Begin prepping the furniture by sanding large surfaces with an orbital power sander to remove glossy surface. Use fine-grit sandpaper to get small details in the woodwork.

Before priming, remove dust with a vacuum or damp cloth. Apply a uniform layer of primer on dresser and drawers. Use the roller for large surfaces and paintbrush for details. Let dry. Follow primer’s instructions on how long to wait before painting.

Once the primer is dry, begin painting with a clean brush and roller. Apply first coat and let dry. Paint two to three coats for a brighter, bolder color. After the paint has dried, reassemble the dresser and accessorize with hardware.

]]>Remembering Sept. 11http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/09/11/archives/september-11.html
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2012/09/11/archives/september-11.html#commentsTue, 11 Sep 2012 16:17:06 +0000http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/?p=71289As we honor those who died on 9/11, we are also reminded how our country came together to stand as one.

As we honor the victims of Sept. 11, we are also reminded how our country came together to stand as one.

The Golden Ruleby Norman Rockwell April 1, 1961

We love Norman Rockwell’s 1961 Post cover, The Golden Rule, which reflects that same sentiment. Each person depicted in this illustration is one of Rockwell’s neighbors from Arlington, Virginia, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It represents the universal fact that all men, great or unknown, are members of one family.

After The Golden Rule appeared as a magazine cover, Rockwell was presented with the Interfaith Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, recognized for “his dedication to the highest ideals of amity, understanding, and cooperation among men.”